Le Festin d'Esope

[in_love_with_liszt]

I'm currently working on Alkan's "Le Festin d'Esope" etude, and am seeking a good recording of the piece for reference. I own the Hamelin recording, and am quite dissatisfied as he squanders all the emotional character Alkan infused into the large chords and sweeping passages. I also own Ringeissen's recording, who does a slightly better job at capturing the romantic flair, but plays it much slower than Alkan's metrenome marking. Any suggestions? I'm also looking for a more inspiring Alkan pianist in general, as I am debating whether to take up the Sonata or the Concerto, and regretfully only own the uneventful Hamelin renditions.  

(I apologize, as I origionally posted this at two in the morning, and unrealizingly posted in the student's section in the delerium :-/)

[xvimbi]

People seem to be liking Jack Gibbons, Raymond Lewenthal, Michel Ponti and Ronald Smith. Particularly Jack Gibbons may be the "inspiring Alkan pianist" you are looking for.

[in_love_with_liszt]

Thanks, I'll look into it.

[donjuan]

I'm currently working on Alkan's "Le Festin d'Esope" etude

haha, that's a GREAT piece!!! ;DI am expecting the sheetmusic for it any day now from Amazon.
donjuan

[DarkWind]

I have it in Digital Format. That and most of the works of Satie, Chabrier, Ravel, etc. You should try www.cdsheetmusic.com one day.

[in_love_with_liszt]

I have the book that contains the Symphony, Concerto, Aesop's Feast, and Saltare(although it's not hard I like this piece). It's pulished by Dover, and I'm hoping that this book isn't representative of the quality they usually publish music because in some parts it's very sloppily done, some notes are missing stems. Well if you're honestly about to start Festin  then I'll give you ample warning-this is a really hard piece. Although It's not hard anymore, the first few days of trying to play the 15th variation, and the section with all the appoggiaturas is torture. The repeated notes in the right hand in the second variation are a pain too, I'm not sure that most people that perform this piece actually repeat the notes, instead just tie them together? Hmph.

[donjuan]

I have the book that contains the Symphony, Concerto, Aesop's Feast, and Saltare(although it's not hard I like this piece). It's pulished by Dover, and I'm hoping that this book isn't representative of the quality they usually publish music because in some parts it's very sloppily done, some notes are missing stems.

I hope this isnt the book you are talking about:

https://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486400662/qid=1089952932/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1_1/701-7942745-2616354

because that's the one I ordered... :-/
donjuan

[in_love_with_liszt]

Well....um unfortunately that is the exact book I own. Sheesh and it was lot more expensive when i bought it. Hopefully I just got a bad copy, and yours will be fine...I mean there really are some great pieces in there, I played the finale of the Symphonie as an encore piece, and I'm debating whether to learn Alkan's Concerto or the Sonata....I mean since I have the music to the Concerto it would make sense to do that, but it seems like the Sonata has more emotional character....then again the Concerto also seems like it could be very representative of the romantic style, if only Monsieur Hamelin would play it...the way it should be? Well good luck on Festin, and that the notes in your book actually have stems.

[donjuan]

Thanks, but chances are it will have the same printing errors..
damn

[faulty_damper]

The Dover edition includes only the reprints of the music, it is not their own excopt for the formated titles.  And the stems probably aren't missing - just too light to reproduce.  In fact, that's the biggest problem with Dover, they just make copies of copies so the quality goes down.  It's a bit of a pain to read this collected edition as the printing isn't as crisp as it should be.

And just to note, M.-A. H. mentions that the works in Op39 are Op 38.  I'm sure that's just a typo in the introduction.

[donjuan]

damn, I should have gone to you guys before going and ordering this book...
donjuan

[in_love_with_liszt]

Hey Donjuan when you get your book tell me if there is a page like halfway through the first mov. of the concerto that has a....tumor...lol. There's on page in my book that is kinda mishapen. But actually Aesop's Feast isn't too incredibly hard once you get a feel for Alkan, although some of the big chords rerquire a little extra time to master, and I still am a bit puzzled by the second variation as all the rcordings I own of the piece sound as if the performer merely ties together the repeated notes in the right hand...or maybe that's what you're supposed to do...hmph.

[donjuan]

Hey Donjuan when you get your book tell me if there is a page like halfway through the first mov. of the concerto that has a....tumor...lol. There's on page in my book that is kinda mishapen.

will do.

[donjuan]

we.. I got my book!  The printing quality is poor everywhere, but I didnt notice any "tumers"..
In_Love_With_Liszt, I didnt know know le festin de Esope was such a difficult piece!!!  I think it and the Concerto Op.39 No.8-10 rival Rachmaninoff's Piano concerto No.3 in difficulty!!  I cant believe those huge chords he uses- I wont be trying any alkan for a LONG time.  I thought the Symphony for solo piano was comparatively easier to le festin de esope.  Maybe I would try that one first...

Along with the book came my order of Liszt's Opera Transcriptions of Wagner!!! now THAT is an awesome book.

[liszmaninopin]

Which edition of Alkan's op. 39 would you recommend?  I have the scores on the computer, but would like to buy a book.

[in_love_with_liszt]

...Don't buy from Dover...they send certain people coughmecough books whose mother smoked 6 packs of cigs a day while she was pregnant...

[donjuan]

...Don't buy from Dover...they send certain people coughmecough books whose mother smoked 6 packs of cigs a day while she was pregnant...

Liszmaninopin, he is probably right.  I ordered the same book, and the quality is significantly different.  Mine is better though and useable, so if you want the take a chance, get dover.
donjuan

[hodi]

u can get the COMPLETE piano sheet music of alkan in emule. just search for "alkan piano"

it took me a while to download, but it's worthy collection...

[da jake]

I agree that as great as Hamelin's Alkan is there seem to be some strange problems with his Festin as early as the endings of the first two variations.

Raymond Lewenthal captures the essence of the piece wonderfully, though some of the variations are played a bit too slow for my liking (others are played nice and fast though!!!). Overall, it's the best recording of the piece.

https://s20.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1TILIW370TRH102AY6SWO0U3HA

Enjoy

[donjuan]

a sweet recording! thanks jake

[happyface94]

I have the hamelin's annoted version for sheet music, it also includes the solo concerto. It is of very good quality.

I have his recording (which I find good, but anyway), and also Lupu's recording, which matches his virtuosity.

[brewtality]

I agree that Lewenthal's festin is better than Hamelin's. The good docter's recording is a bit monotonous imo.

[hodi]

anyone can explain the meaning of the name of this piece?? the feast of sope? what does it mean

[stevie]

its the feast of aesop

a gathering of animals, each variation is supposed to represent a different animal and is very characteristic.

some are pretty obviousw, like chirping birds and stomping elephats, but others are less obvious and leave it more up to the imagination!

whats strange about this piece is that for all it's comedy and light-heartedness, it is very emotional, and builds to an extraordinary climax, its one of my favourite piano pieces of all.

hamelin is underrated in this piece, his is actually my favourite recording.